Cheers to Friendship with Bff Skincare & Fragrances

If you are wracking your brains to choose a gift for your BFF other than usual flower bunches, a soft toy, cosmetcis or fragrances for upcoming Friendship Day, an exclusive goodie box of personal care products can be an ideal choice; coz anyone and everyone wants to look and feel their absolutely best always. On Friendship Day, we all use this opportunity to tell our friends how much we love and care for them. And like always, I've decided to find some gifts of utility for my bestie and curated a thoughtful combo of Rejuvenating products to soothe her stress with sensuous combo from a premium skincare brand Bff.

About the brand:

Bff (Girl's Best Friend Forever) is a premium brand of quality skin care products like Creams, Serums, Lotions, Body oils, Body care, Hair care, Facial Kit and Fragrances. Sourced in synergy with nature from the foothills of Shivalik in the Doon valley, Bff products have re-fashioned skincare. The brand has set a new trend by offering skincare products based on home based recipes made from plant derived ingredients (Extracts, Oils, Fragrances etc). The brand aims to help you with good natural nutrition for your body, skin and hair and to choose a greener lifestyle. A truly natural range of personal care products enriched with SUPERFOODS, made with rich creamy butters blended with natural floral fragrances is truly amazing. And keeping in mind your skin to be beautiful forever, the brand uses no synthetic chemicals for everlasting beauty.

The hamper I curated and recommend-
The brand actually has a few gift sets packed in different arrangements to give a balanced skin care or hair care program to different customers as per their individual requirements, but I decided to go for a custom-made combo that could cover almost all the categories of products to give someone a comprehensive body care combo. So here is the assortment that I've been testing for past weeks before I could order the same for my friend :)

Skin Whitening Serum

Facial serums trend is picking up these days as more n more people are getting aware of it's efficacy. Serums nourish the inner layer of the skin by penetrating active ingredients superbly well into skin. Bff Skin whitening Serum is formulated with Sweet Almond Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Shea Butter, Vitamin E Acetate, Cucumber, Gooseberry and Fragrance. A gentle massage on face before bed can help the skin repair itself overnight with it's powerful ingredients and brightens n tones the skin if applied regularly. It's not heavy on skin and you may gift it to someone who has normal to oily skin type. Be advised that it's not a substitute for the intense moisturizer that dry skin would need. 

Skin Tone Perfection Cream

This cream made of Sweet Almond Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Shea Butter, Vitamin E Acetate, Noni Berry and Rosehip Oil is an effective treatment for achieveing even skin tone and glowing skin. It's a moderately viscose cream that sinks in the skin only after a few light strokes. Though the cream doesn't smell pleasant, but gives a dose of nourishment to dry parched skin due to Vitamins, Minerals, Essential Fatty acids & Anti-oxidants that it contains. Once absorbed well, it doesn't feel greasy. I usually add 2-3 drops of my fav essential oil to it to make my skin smell great. Best suited for dry skin.

Moisturizing Body Oil 

For someone who is keen to take their normal skincare regimen ahead of traditional body lotions, a natural blend of body oils is perfect alternative. I'm deeply and madly in love with massage oils and enjoy their benefits that go beyond improving the skin appearance and relieve my stressed mind. The Bff moisturizing oil is an infusion of Jojoba Oil, Apricot kernel Oil, Sweet Almond Oil that is boon for dry skinned people. It can be applied on dry skin, but the damp skin responds better to a body oil for optimal results.

Destress Aromatic Blend
While the body oils need a few minutes of precious time of yours for the massage; a quicker way to relax the mind, renew the body and revive the soul is to apply a few drops of a delightful blend of serene oils on your pulse points. A topical application of this blend of Jasmine & Sweet Basil oils at your temples, wrists, or the back of your neck takes away your stress, anxiety, and tension thereby calming you down instantly and creating an overall sense of well-being. I'm sure you have a bunch of friends who are believers in aroma therapy and would thank you if you surprise them with such gifts.

Conditioning Hair Oil
Packed with all essential vitamins, proteins and minerals, BFF conditioning hair oil is a trusted product one can use for improving blood circulation and hair growth. This conditioning treatment uses the essence of argan oil, jojoba oil & lavender oil for nourishing and strengthening hair. This oil fights all problems related to hair like split ends, hair fall, fizz and other damages without stickiness. Make your Rapulzel friend smile ear to ear who is obsessed with her tresses.  

Nourishing Hair Oil 

Bff nourishing hair oil is a unique and effective blend of apricot kernel oil, coconut oil & tea tree oil that helps to cure dandruff and itchiness of scalp while promoting hair growth, shine and strength. This hair oil has lovely fragrance and rejuvenating after effects. What if your friend has short hair, a nourishing formula is all what she needs for healthy hair. 

Why Bff Skincare & Fragrances make best gift?

• It's an out-of-the-box gifting option away from mundane gifts like chocolates, cards, stationary, flowers etc. 
• The product ingredients are sourced from nature and have no hazardous consequences. So it's a perfect token of love for your friend for whom you care.
• The packaging is really appealing with colourful floral prints on the outer cartons and containers that need no extra gift wraps.
• Customization of products is possible depending on the skin and hair type that your friend would surely cherish using.
• Pricing is reasonably affordable for such premium quality products that come in sufficient pack sizes. 
• The products can be equally effective for your male or female friends, so you may gift without worries of gender-specific products selection.
• Online availability makes it easier for you to get the gift box delivered at your friend's doorstep when you can't make it to greet in person. 

Hope your gifting woes are sorted. So go ahead sending your loving good wishes to your dost.
                                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This post is a part of #FriendshipBlogTrain hosted by flavorsofworld.com and throughmypinkwindow.com. Read 20 awesome articles by the popular bloggers of India. So come and join us to celebrate the most beautiful bonding-Friendship.

I thank my fellow blogger Kapila who writes at everylittlethinghappiness.com for introducing me to this amazing blog train. Now I would like to introduce yet another blogger Priyal to take you to next station at parilifestyle.com.

Affordable & Effective Herbal Home Cleaning Supplies ft. Herbal Strategi

We've been quite considerate for ditching chemical based products from our lives; be it eatables, beauty essentials or skincare stuff. But if you just look around, you'll realize you missed switching to herbal, non-toxic home cleaning products that are crucial to healthy environment within your home. So today' I'm introducing you to Herbal Strategi, a brand dedicated to offer a wide array of herbal solutions to almost all your household needs. I've been using some of the products for last few days and all these fared so well.  So check out what all I tried at my home-

Herbal Room Freshener (Lemon) is the one-stop solution for bad odours and gives you that fresh breath of air that you have been looking for a long time. Made of herbal ingredients like Lemongrass Oil, Lemon Oil, Neem Oil, Cedar Wood Oil, Water and Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine, it is a viable option to replace products that have a chemical composition and can be harmful. These air-fresheners are extracted from natural ingredients and are thus extremely eco-friendly. They do not cause any side-effects or respiratory discomfort. It leaves behind a lingering soothing fragrance. Available in other fragrances like Sandal, Lavender, Rose, White Lily etc.

SDS is a 100% herbal Sanitising and Disinfecting Spray which is biodegradable, non-toxic and eco-friendly. This herbal spray has antibacterial, fungicidal and antimicrobial properties, which help keep viruses, bacteria and fungus at bay. It is made from a unique blend of plant extracts and aromatic oils like Bhutika Oil, Roshika Oil, Tulasi Oil, Tailaparna Oil and Water. It effectively kills the odour producing bacteria and germs present in the air and immediately eliminates all bad odours. I spay it on my bedsheet to disinfect it before bedtime.

The Dish Wash Liquid is made exclusively of plant extracts and aromatic oils which are 100% herbal in nature. The dish wash is not only chemical-free and safe for your utensils, but is also gentle on your skin. This acid-free dish wash liquid has to be mixed in water and then used for cleaning the utensils with a gentle scrub. It rinses off quite easily and does not leave behind any residue after the wash. For greasy n oily stains on the vessels, do pour the concentrate directly on the stain and scrub after a minute or two to effectively remove grease and germs from your dishes..

Herbal Floor Cleaner is made from Lemongrass, Cedarwood and Sarala Oil. It can be added to half bucket full of water while mopping the floor. The mop cleaner is best suited for cleaning the Tiles, Stone, Granite and Indian Marble surface. Avoid cleaning the Italian Marble and Hardwood floors. It acts as a natural disinfectant and repels bugs and insects. Yu may also remove the stubborn stains on the floor by applying a small amount of undiluted cleaner liquid to the stain and mopping with water after few minutes.

Nature Clean – Herbal Hand Sanitizer is the one that does not make your hands rough. It is ideal for those who take cleanliness and sanitation seriously. This herbal hand sanitizer makes sure that your hands remain supple and soft and also gives you germ-free skin. Its mini pack easily fits into my bag, hence making it handy when in need. It's nicely fragrant. It's herbal composition includes Lemongrass Oil, Neem Oil, Lemon Oil, Tulsi Oil, Water, Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine. I specially like its gel-like tecture which is not runny and watery thin.

The biodegradable Kitchen Cleaner Spray is made of plant extracts and natural oils that are not toxic in nature like Lemongrass Oil, Cedar Wood Oil, Pine Oil, Water and Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine. Being eco-friendly and safe, it is the best substitute for chemical-based products that have hazardous effects on your health. I've used it to clean my microwave, cooktop hobs and kitchen  chimney. It effectively removes any greasy buildup from the appliances and keeps the flies and insects at bay. It also smells nice so that its not bothersome to your sensitive nose. An additional pump came along to convert the bottle into a pump spray once you open it.

Herbal Termite Spray is made from Lemongrass, Neem and Cedarwood. It can be sprayed on crevices and gaps in infected wood furniture, doors, cupboards and on mud tunnels and trails of termite seen on walls. It's dvised to repeat the spray once a day at infected areas for a week to eradicate termites and not letting them hatch the eggs.

Herbal Mosquito Vaporizer is a herbal, non-toxic mosquito repellent liquid vaporizer that repels mosquitoes for 8-12 hours. It's design fits all the machines that you might be using already. It's fragrance is not very strong, yet effective. One bottle suffice a month long usage.

I carry a Toilet Seat Sanitizer in my bag wherever I go because the public toilets or the hygienic -looking toilets of our homes are hubs of infectious germs. This herbal toilet seat sanitizer makes sure that toilet seat is free of contamination and increases hygiene confidence. It is made of Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Citronella Oil, Water and Excipients. Just spritz it on the toilet seat and wait for a few second to let it vapourize. The product has antibacterial, fungicidal and antimicrobial properties.

Pros:

No use of harmful chemicals.
Non-toxic and bio-degradable.
Made exclusively from natural ingredients and plant extracts.
Not tested on animals.
Kind to waterways and marine life
Safe for kids.

Causes zero side effects.

Pocket friendly prices.

Convenient packaging.

Refill available for most products.

Easy online availability.

Cons:

None

Shopping For A Precious 'You'

"Beautiful things shouldn’t necessarily be accompanied with heavy price tags."

And that's the philosophy which PreciousYou.in continually strives to live by and that's the reason they source and curate the most exclusive fashion accessories from across the globe at prices that are bound to pack in a lot of pleasant surprises for their customers.

About PreciousYou.in 
The team at PreciousYou.in is dedicated to put together a collection of the most exquisite pieces of fashion jewelry from places that any modern woman would love to flaunt! Be it a stunning pair of embellished earrings from Afghanistan, a traditional handcrafted necklace from Nepal or a fabulous piece of jewelry all the way from Kazakhstan- you name it and you have it! A treasure trove for jewelry aficionados, their collection comprises authentic handmade pieces directly sourced from their place of origin that have a unique story to tell.

The brand has got everything to enlighten the diva in every woman with its irresistible collection of handpicked jewelry that are easy on the pocket yet manage to stand out in a crowd. Each piece in their collection is 100% authentic and guarantees the wearer a truly original look. With over 500 Afghani,Turkmani, Uzbeki, Kazaki, Nepali, Kundan, Jadau and Meenakari pieces to spoil you with choices galore, their impeccable assemblage boasts of a unique plethora of designs that are hard to find anywhere else.

My Shopping Experience
I'm a jewelery hoarder and had been looking for some necklace with a regal appeal to it that may go with my newly purchased saree. A random hunt for graceful jewellery pieces took me to preciousyou.in and much impressed with their collection I started frisking their entire collection. After a while, I realised I wasn't exploring something that was on my shopping hit list, rather I had spent almost two hours admiring the exquisite rings, graceful bracelets and fanciable necklaces. On the back of my mind, I was estimating the budget I may have to spend on this site to own some gorgeous pieces. 

On the spur of the moment, I clicked on the Handbag category with an intention to give a quick glance and my eyes were struck on the cute little Cherry Red Vegan Leather Bag. 

That sounds abrupt, but I instantly made up my mind to forego jewellery shopping for the time being because a bag in this particular colour was my long cherished wish and I didn't want to miss this one.

Placing the order had been a cakewalk...absolutely hassle-free and no confusion in navigating on the site looking for options. I opted for Cash on Delivery option which costs NO EXTRA payment unlike most shopping portals. I received a confirmation email right after placing the order. The order was shipped within 24 hours and the updates on the order status was emailed to me with Tracking details. A properly packed parcel was delivered to me within 3 days that was quick enough. See how I styled with a basic LBD with no embellishments.

I'm totally delighted to have smooth and uncomplicated shopping experience at PreciousYou.in. The best part is that they provide 100% free shipping all over India and accept all payment methods like COD, debit/credit cards and net banking. One can also return/exchange a product by raising a ticket within 24 hours of receiving the order (which I didn't need to because I loved my bag).

I recommend the lovely ladies to shop at PreciousYou.in and fall in love with yourself all over again.

Oriflame The One Colour Unlimited Lipstick Super Matte Review

Introducing The ONE's most extreme matte lipstick ever! The gorgeous slim stick of saturated colour applies with high coverage and precision for a crisp, ultra-matte finish with longwear performance - stays put for up to 11 hours and is smear and transfer-resistant. LipSoft Moisture Plus moisturises and conditions to help keep lips smooth, supple and comfortable for extreme wearability.

Nourishing Ultra-Matte Lipstick
Extreme Matte Finish
Extreme Coverage
Extreme Wear
Extreme Comfort

Formulated with moisturising and conditioning LipSOFT Moisture Plus and a superior blend of waxes for longwear performance.LipSOFT Moisture Plus: this luscious complex of butters, emollients and Vitamin E plus nourishing Macadamia Nut Oil moisturise and condition the lips for comfort, enhance the lipstick's sumptuous velvety texture, and enable smooth application. Superior Wax Blend: the blend of performance waxes provides superior adhesion to the lips and resists smearing, melting and transferring.

All Ingredients:
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Silica, Isohexadecane, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Polyethylene, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Soybean Glycerides, Cera Microcristallina, Paraffin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Shorea Robusta Resin, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Propylparaben, Bht, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, CI 15850, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 77492, CI 17200, CI 45410, CI 77499, CI 45380

Shades Available:

The One Colour Unlimited lipsticks are offered in 8 shades.

33365 Perennial Pink

33366 Constant Coral

33367 Forever Fuschia

 33368 Perpetual Papaya

33369 Sunset Horizon

33370 Eternal Flame

33371 Resolute Red

33372 Endless Cherry

Swatches:

The One Colour Unlimited lipsticks come in quite slim n sleek bullet pack that are easy to hold. The shade number and name is labeled on the bottom of the lipstick. The lipstick is placed in an outer cardboard box of same colour theme on which you may find the ingredient list, mfg date and shelf life etc. printed.

I liked the Colour Unlimited lipsticks right from the first use due to their texture, pigmentation and ease of application. These gave my lips lovely coverage in single swipe, but as usual I like building up the colour in 2-3 swipes for deeper tones. The moment you apply it, it doesn't give an impression of a matte lipstick, but gradually the creaminess turns into something bit lesser glossy and matte.
The lipcolour stayed for around 5-6 hours without touchups on my lips and survived frequent sips of water n other beverages plus light meal when worn at work. I consider this time span good enough for me to judge a lipstick as long stay. Despite being matte, the lipsticks are sufficiently moisturizing on lips and since I don't use a lip balm underneath, it's a perfect bonus for me to get that gentle non-dry feel all the day long.
A fruity scent is there in the lipsticks which is noticeable but not very strong.
Talking about the shades in the range, these are great options for daily wear and compliment most skin tones unless and until someone is picky or choosy for specific shades. But as always, I would have been happier if this range included atleast one or two shades of browns, copper also so that once you have added these to your stash you need not to look for another set of lipsticks.
Each of these lipsticks weighing 1.7 gms is priced at INR 679 which might be expensive for some. But keeping in mind, the good quality and intense lasting colour that they provide, one can certainly go for one or two selected shades.
Among all the shades, Resolute Red and Constant Coral are my most loved ones. Which one would you like to try?

Journey to the Last Indian Village in Himachal – Chitkul

Located in the heart of Kinnaur Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Chitkul is a little station which gives you the sentiment of having gone far away from civilization. The village lies on the Indo-Tibetan trade route, therefore being the last village of India which can be visited without a permit. Bearing a distance of about 600 kilometers from Delhi and 28 kilometers from Sangla Valley, Chitkul is handsomely based at a height of 3450m and excites travelers with its enchanting beauty. 

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There are two routes to reach Chitkul and the drive is purely a delightful treat both ways. You can start off for Chandigarh from Delhi via bus. From Chandigarh, board a state bus or HRTC and reach Reckong Peo in about 10-12 hours. Chitkul lies 60 kilometers ahead of Reckong Peo. Another transit bus will drop you at Chitkul within 3 hours.

Alternatively, you may travel to Shimla from Delhi, stay a night there and board an early morning bus to Sangla and reach there in around 7 hours. In another 2 hours, you will reach Chitkul via Rakcham. Sangla Valley is a wonderful creation of God which offers enthralling scenic views for nature lovers.

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The small hamlet of Chitkul is situated on the banks of Baspa River that hold crystal clear blue green waters. Around 600 people reside in the village and traces of Indo-Tibetan connection can still be seen in the region. On the left bank of Baspa River lies the snowcapped mountains while on the right bank, the whole tail is flooded with apple orchids. Chitkul is an amazing destination for Himalayan Trekking. It is a perfect place to go for long walks, long and short treks as well as night camping. It is a gateway to Lamkhaga Pass Trek, Rupin Pass Trek & Borasu Pass Trek. Just a few kilometers away from the village is the Nagasthi ITPB post, the last Indian outpost on the border. Ranikanda meadows is a 10 kilometer beautiful trek from Chitkul. The small pretty village is also famous for trout fishing and adventure sports such as mountain biking, bouldering, slackling etc. Mathi temple is a must visit place. The temple is said to be 500 years old and is well known for its art and architecture.

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There are roadside dhabas and few teashops that serve tasty Tibetan style food like momos and thukpa (noodle soup). Bright colored Kinnaur shawals and woolen stuff make a lovely gift to carry back. Also, look up for attractive silver jewellery embedded with turquoise, coral and rare Tibetan pearls. The delicious golden apples and peaches can be bought from there at cheap prices than on the plains. 

Best time to visit the place is from May to October. During these months, you can explore mountains, wide grasslands, apple orchids and swirling river currents. However, the village is closed from November to February due to heavy snowfall. Chitkul, being away from civilization, is an ideal holiday spot for travelers and peace seekers. The mini land of Chitkul is blessed with splendid mountain sights and wonderful natural bliss.

*Guest Post